The Heat discusses the Pan Arab Army

The Heat

The Saudi-led air campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen has now passed the two-week mark. The World Health Organization estimates more than 540 people have been killed in the violence that’s taken over the country. And, according to UNICEF, more than ten thousand people have fled their homes. As its neighbor to the north, Saudi Arabia has long looked to keep Yemen in its sphere of influence, and the Bab Al-Mandeb waterway is strategic trade link connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Sunni majority Arab countries in the region accuse Shiite dominated Iran of supporting Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi-led airstrike campaign is being watched closely by observers who see it as a precursor to the joint regional force announced by the Arab League at the end of its summit last month. CCTV’s Nathan King provided an update.

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, no doubt, has major strategic consequences in the Middle East.

The Heat began the discussion about a Saudi-led Pan Arab Army and U.S. policy with former U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey. During his career he served as Ambassador to Iraq, Turkey and Albania. He was also the deputy national security advisor under George W. Bush, with a special focus on Iran.

The Heat continued its discussion on the formation of a Pan Arab army with these experts:

  • Seyed Mohammad Marandi is the dean of faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran.
  • Author and syndicated columnist Austin Bay is the co-author of the book “A Quick and Dirty Guide to War”
  • Kamran Bokhari is an advisor on Middle Eastern and South Asia Affairs with the geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor. He co-authored the book “Political Islam in the Age of Democratization”.